Path of the Extra Chapter 372: Leo Karumi [6]

Hesitating at the threshold, Leo found himself unable to muster the courage to enter the room.

Inside, he spotted his father, his mother, and the nurse. They all beamed with joy at the tiny bundle cradled tenderly in his mother's embrace, pressed softly against her.

The infant appeared to be in a peaceful slumber.

However...

What was this strange sensation in the air that kept Leo from crossing the doorway?

He felt grateful that Nathan and his folks had chosen to linger outside, allowing Leo a private moment with his own family...

Or at least, he ought to have felt grateful. Yet, a piercing pain stabbed at his heart as he gazed upon the idyllic, heartwarming tableau before him.

What exactly felt so off?

Leo pondered deeply, trying to unravel it.

It was obvious that joy filled the room. Tears glistened in his father's eyes—a sight Leo had never witnessed—and a broad, contented grin lit his face as he admired the dozing newborn. His mother's features bore the marks of exhaustion, but a radiant smile curved her lips, with tears tracing paths down her face.

In their eyes, Leo had always been the flawless achiever, capable of handling anything effortlessly. But they remained unaware of the countless nights he spent hidden beneath his covers, poring over books, viewing online tutorials, and seeking ways to better himself. The secret training sessions he undertook when no one watched.

Thanks to his diligence, he had earned those warm parental smiles in the past.

Yet now, observing their expressions, Leo sensed a quality in them that he had never truly experienced directed at him...

Leo squinted his eyes.

Then, peering more intently at his mother's countenance...

It hit him.

Her gaze...

A gaze brimming with pure affection, aimed at the baby from both his mom and dad.

But throughout his life, that kind of love, despite all his hard work... had never been turned toward him.

A dark, thick blackness seemed to coat his insides like ink, and his sight dimmed gradually, focusing only on their faces—until even those began to fade.

The truth dawned on him. No matter how hard he strived to draw their attention...

The look he received would never match the one bestowed upon his little sister.

It was unjust.

...Utterly unjust.

That inky darkness crept into his mind too, birthing an absurd notion.

"Ah, you are..."

The nurse's startled tone shattered his reverie as she spotted Leo at the door.

"Leo... why are you crying?" his mother's worried voice followed.

Then his father chuckled.

"He must be overcome with emotion, finally meeting his little sister, right?"

This didn't feel correct.

Those gazes...

Eyes overflowing with love that had been fixed on his little sister. Why were they now turning toward him as well? Why didn't they fade or weaken?

"Leo, it's fine. Come inside."

Nothing added up like this.

Just moments ago, he had grasped the depth of love reserved for the baby versus himself...

And now, abruptly, they regarded him with identical warmth? Right after? It baffled him.

Still, Leo finally stepped into the room. Somehow, tears flowed down his cheeks without his realization. Or perhaps he simply hadn't noticed them yet.

Approaching the bedside, he rubbed his eyes with his sleeve before bending down, curiosity overwhelming him, to examine the infant's face closely.

What made this creature so endearing? Leo scrutinized it, head cocked in bewilderment.

The head seemed disproportionately large, and it looked fragile enough to perish at any instant.

"Would you like to hold your little sister, Leo?"

"Huh?"

Leo glanced up at her.

"Can I?"

So soon?

Yet, for whatever reason, his mother continued to watch him with that same affectionate, trusting look.

As she extended her arms with the awkward bundle toward him, Leo's nerves heightened.

"What if I drop her...?"

"You watched how I held her, didn't you? Just support her head softly and avoid any pressure. Her body remains incredibly fragile."

With the nurse, his father, and his mother observing, Leo followed the guidance and took the baby into his arms. He received further adjustments until he cradled her correctly.

Abruptly, the infant shifted in his hold, sending an uneasy sensation through him.

She awoke.

"Oh, it seems Lia is stirring," his father remarked.

Leo peered at her, eyes narrowing.

Right as he prepared to react, a minuscule hand grasped his thumb tightly.

Attempting to free his thumb, Leo discovered the baby's surprising grip strength for such a tiny form, as she clung stubbornly.

"Your little sister already appears quite fond of her big brother, doesn't she..." his mother noted, while Leo scowled.

In that instant, her eyelids fluttered open.

"Green..." Leo whispered, meeting those eyes.

"You two have matching eyes," his mother commented.

Then, something tumbled down.

"Oh!"

"Please stay still, let me get it!"

The nurse called out before rushing to Leo's side.

She swiftly retrieved the fallen item.

"A box?" his father questioned, puzzled by the thing that had slipped from Leo's pants.

Leo averted his gaze. His pulse quickened with anxiety. Nevertheless, he spoke up.

"...It's a gift... for Mom..."

"A gift for me?"

Leo nodded, still cradling the baby who was emitting irritating noises.

"May I open it and see inside?"

Leo nodded once more, stealing a look at her.

"It's yours."

The nurse passed the box to his mother, who carefully lifted the lid.

His father approached the bed, peering into the contents.

Their eyes both grew wide.

"Leo, this..."

"How much did this cost you?" his father inquired.

"...Does it matter? I bought it with my own savings," Leo replied, meeting his gaze.

"Well... as long as it wasn't overly pricey... though it looks quite valuable..." his father grumbled, eyeing the necklace uneasily.

Noticing that response, Leo pressed his lips together.

"Leo. Come closer."

Leo avoided her eyes as his mother summoned him, yet he complied, approaching with the baby in his arms.

Once beside the bed again, the nurse voiced concern to his mother.

"Ah! Ma'am, you shouldn't—"

She halted, relenting, as Leo felt a kiss on his forehead.

Blinking repeatedly as his mother drew back, Leo stared at her in confusion, then his eyes widened.

She held the box near her heart, treating it like a cherished treasure, while beaming at him with genuine warmth and affection.

"Thank you, Leo. I'll cherish it always. You chose gold, my absolute favorite!"

Her voice rang with delight as she said it.

Though Leo recognized this, a smile tugged at his lips uncontrollably.

Why did embarrassment flood him? He couldn't face her directly and lowered his sight to the baby instead.

He wasn't accustomed to seeing his mother this joyful on his account...

The pain in his chest gave way to a soothing warmth.

The infant suddenly grinned up at Leo, cooing strangely while maintaining her hold on his fingers.

He recalled a book from his parents' study—likely his mother's—that explained babies typically don't smile in genuine happiness at people until six to eight weeks old.

But encountering the baby's smile with his own gaze, he sensed that deep within...

Far inside him, a subtle movement occurred.

Like a gentle wave passing through. It felt warm and intense.

The emotion blended sorrow and joy in equal measure.